2026 Programming of the Year Award recipient

We are honored to announce that we have received the 2026 Programming of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras. The award covers programming for the 2024–2025 season.

We have always had strong programming, selecting pieces that are interesting for our musicians, appealing to traditional audiences, and embracing and performing new music whenever possible. The programming for the 2024–2025 season was extraordinary.

It met all of our traditional goals while strategically including and embracing underrepresented artists and compositions that are highly relevant to our community. Our 2024–2025 season clearly exemplified its theme, “Soul & Inspiration.” The programming welcomed and included artists and composers who have traditionally been excluded, and we did so powerfully—not by creating a special concert, but by including them in our regular programming alongside traditional pieces.

The season’s programming reflects Maestro Eckerling's deep and thoughtful exploration of the full orchestral repertoire. He carefully selected pieces that spoke to him and would speak to our audiences, while exposing them to new sounds and ideas. “We feel honored to be recognized in this category (Programming of the Year),” said Maestro Eckerling.

“It is with a labor of love that I work to cultivate programs for the ESO that serve both the players of the orchestra and our audience members. I try to make them both rewarding and entertaining, and to make sure that they align with the overall mission of the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.” ESO Board President Laura Cinat said, “It is truly an honor to be recognized for our programming, which was brought to life by the artistry of our musicians and was full of innovative and soulful musical selections. This recognition affirms our ongoing efforts to be a meaningful source of inspiration within our community.”

Programming for the ESO’s 80th anniversary season 2026–2027 will be announced shortly.